-LRB- CNN -RRB- Japan 's Shimanami Kaido might be an expressway , but it was designed with the cyclist in mind .

A spectacular 60-kilometer road-and-bridge network connecting Japan 's main island of Honshu with Shikoku -LRB- the nation 's fourth largest island -RRB- , it spans six smaller islands in the process and features bike and pedestrian lanes for its entire length .

The sublime scenery of the Shimanami Kaido -LRB- Island-Wave-Sea Route -RRB- runs from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture down to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture .

Whichever way you travel , the views of the Seto Inland Sea National Park are sublime .

Cycling gives you the freedom to stop for a photo halfway across a bridge or detour to investigate lighthouses , shrines and natural wonders most automobile travelers zip past .

With 14 cycle rental terminals along the way , you can go at your own pace , spend a night at a campsite or inn or just hand your bike in at the nearest rental terminal and hop on a bus .

Some terminals even have electric bicycles for hire .

Experienced cyclists will be able to complete the entire route -- there are a few challenging spots -- in a few hours .

Here 's a look at some of the highlights .

Starting point : Onomichi

As of March , Onomichi is home to Japan 's first hotel designed exclusively for cyclists : Hotel Cycle in the Onomichi U2 building , just five minutes ' walk from the JR station .

Manager Katsunori Takahashi is huge cycling enthusiast , and it shows .

You can park your bike in your room , and there 's even a cycle-through restaurant .

Taiwanese bike manufacturer Giant has a store in U2 catering to cyclists : bikes , accessories , repairs .

U2 's Shima Shop sells local produce such as lemon comfiture and dried debera -LRB- five-spot flounder -RRB- , an Onomichi delicacy .

As for Onomichi itself , the town was built on a hillside overlooking the sea , so the best way to see it before you head onto the Shimanami Kaido is to catch the ropeway to the top of Senkoji Hill and enjoy the panorama .

The walk down the Path of Literature is pleasant -- it winds past past boulders engraved with works by famous writers who 've stayed in Onomichi over the centuries .

You 'll see the splendid Senkoji Temple , which dates from 806 AD , one of the oldest temples in Japan .

A stamina boost comes in the form of Onomichi 's legendary ramen .

Tsutafuji is one of the most popular ramen shops in town .

It 's a mom and pop waterfront bar near the JR station that 's been open more than 50 years .

There are just 10 stools inside , so you may have wait a while .

Once inside , you 'll get a bowlful of noodles topped with pork in a pork-bone-and-fish broth .

` Orchard of Japan '

After a day in Onomichi , it 's time to roll .

As soon as you 've crossed Onomichi Strait and reached Mukaishima Island , you 'll find yourself in a serene realm of citrus groves , set in the folds of forest-clad mountains .

Citrus is big business here .

The town of Setoda is Japan 's number one producer of lemons , while Ehime Prefecture is known as the Orchard of Japan .

There are tangerines , oranges and hybrid fruits unique to these islands , such as anseikan -LRB- a cannonball-sized grapefruit -RRB- .

Citrus-related products abound : cakes , jams , honey , sauces , juices .

World 's longest suspension bridge

As you breeze across the routes magnificent bridges -LRB- seven of them -RRB- , a labyrinth of misty islands unfolds below .

There are inhabited islands , desert islands and islands that are no more than a rock with a lone pine tree clinging to it .

A procession of trawlers , tugs and speedboats glides in and out the channels .

As for those bridges , their exquisite state of the art forms make them an attraction in their own right .

Tatara is one of the world 's longest cable-stayed bridges -- its elegant 220-meter-high steel towers represent the folded wings of a crane .

At 4,045 meters long , Kurushima Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world .

Temples , fusion food , stunning sea

Deep in the heart of rural Japan , there 's a rich amount of art and culture to enjoy .

Kosanji Temple on Ikuchijima Island is a must-visit .

Built in 1936 by Buddhist priest Koso Kosanji in memory of his mother , this wonderland of temples , pagodas and natural beauty took more than 30 years to complete .

Each building is modeled on famous temple buildings in Kyoto , Nikko and elsewhere , so visiting is like taking a stroll through Japanese history .

For the perfect ending to a trip -LRB- should you choose to loop back the way you came -RRB- you ca n't go wrong with the Bella Vista Hotel in the hills outside Onomichi .

The rooms are huge and offer views over the supreme serenity of the island-dotted sea .

There 's exquisite fusion in the hotel 's Italian restaurant -LRB- blowfish and tagliarini -RRB- .

The hotel spa is open to the elements on one side , allowing fresh ocean breezes to cool your skin as you boil to a jelly while watching Jupiter rise over the Seto Sea .

Travel info

Shinkansen bullet trains depart Tokyo regularly for Shin-Onomichi station -- the trip takes about 4.5 hours . Domestic flights between Tokyo and Hiroshima take about an hour and 20 minutes .

Bicycles can be rented for 500 yen a day -LRB- children 300 yen -RRB- . Tolls totaling 500 yen -LRB- about $ 5 -RRB- are required for all bridge crossings .

By car , the tolls are about 4,000 yen one way .

A free shuttle bus to the Bella Vista Hotel runs from Onomichi JR station . The Tourist Office in the station can arrange it for you .

Steve John Powell is a Hiroshima-based travel writer who has contributed to the Japan Times , CNN Travel and the South China Morning Post .

Originally published May 2014 . Updated April 3 , 2015 .

CNN Travel 's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile . However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports . Read the policy .

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Japan 's Shimanami Kaido is a spectacular 60-kilometer road and bridge network

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The whole route has cycle lanes and offers views of the Seto Inland Sea National Park

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Cyclists cross the 4,045-meter Kurushima Bridge , the world 's longest suspension bridge